How you can become the Word of life on two legs

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:1-3.

The apostles spoke about the Word of life because they had personally seen it and experienced it in Jesus. He is called the Word of God, and it should be that everyone who is His follower can be called the same name. Everyone that meets us should see the Word of life in us.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1.

Because of sin, people were in darkness and separated from the Word, which is the glory of life itself. But Jesus came down in order to give the glory of this Word to us. He was like God, and although He had given that up when He came to earth (Philippians 2:5-7), He was anointed with the Holy Spirit from birth. That means that He could hear God’s voice and do His will right from when He was young. God’s Word and will received legs on which to walk in the midst of this evil and dark world.

The disciples were anointed with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Then they received power to do God’s will just as Jesus was empowered to do it. We read that then the Word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. (Acts 6:7) God’s Word received many bodies, many legs on which to walk.

The Word of life: Doing the Word

All of God’s fullness came to dwell in Jesus because He received the Word from the Father and did it. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. There is no glory outside of the Word. We are transformed from glory to glory, as the Word becomes flesh in us.

The Word is not far off, neither is it too high so that it is too difficult to find. “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Deuteronomy 30:14. If just one Word of God has really become life in us, we have received an indwelling, unshakable power and glory, and we are far richer than if we possessed the largest and most precious diamond in this world.

However, not a single word of God can dwell in us without meeting the most powerful opposition from our flesh and the hosts of Satan. Yet we can decide the outcome of these battles ourselves if we pray to receive the mind that was in Jesus, and to be preserved in it, so that we can always say as He did: “Not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Many people never make any further progress than speaking about God’s Word; the Word of God is not revealed in their daily life. Each Word of God must be spoken in the Holy Spirit, in faith and in full assurance, and it must be received in faith and in the Holy Spirit just as it is—living and powerful—so that it brings forth life in us. When God’s Word has become life in us, we are not lifeless practitioners of religion. No, it will be obvious that we are alive.

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit …” 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6.

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

If we receive the Word of God as the word of man, its power will not be effective in us. Since it is so rare that anyone receives God’s Word as it is in truth, Paul was so exceedingly thankful for the Thessalonians that he thanked God always for them.

Fellowship in the Word of life

Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31. The apostles had fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and proclaimed the Word of life so that more people could have fellowship with them. (1 John 1:1-3) Just as there is perfect fellowship between each Word of God, so there is perfect fellowship between those in whom the Word has become flesh. We are called to nothing less than such an exalted, pure, and blessed fellowship in the light. The result is a brotherhood into which even the gates of Hades cannot drive a wedge.

Many people live their lives as living protests against the Word of God even as they praise God with their lips. They are impatient, bitter, and unthankful. If we fast and pray ever so much to be blessed, it will not succeed for us outside of the law of the Spirit of Life. (Romans 8:1-2) Here we find life, power, and joy.

May God’s Word become life in us, so that the glory of the Lord can radiate from us. May God’s peaceful rest, thankfulness, and joy receive legs to walk on in these restless and disturbing times. May there be patience, humility, love, and goodness that walk about at home and away. Yes, may there be an entire army of walking “God’s Words” that have sincere fellowship with each other, with the Father, and with the Son. John writes: “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:4.

This article has been translated from Norwegian and is an edited version of an article that first appeared under the title “The Word of life” in BCC’s periodical Skjulte Skatter (Hidden Treasures) in June 1950.
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